05/24/2026
DREAM grads highlight resilience at Class of 2026 graduation
By Macy Moore
For this year’s DREAM Technical Academy Class of 2026, a common theme of resilience resonated throughout the graduation ceremony on the morning of Saturday, May 23, as students dressed in long black robes proudly graced the stage of the Willmar Education and Arts Center.
The theme emerged in the address to students from DREAM Math Advisor Dawn Bergh.
“This class understands perseverance,” Bergh said. “The truth is, none of you arrived here by accident. Some came here searching for a fresh start, some came carrying hurt, disappointment or self-doubt. Some arrived after feeling like traditional paths were not working for them anymore."
Regardless of how they arrived, she continued, every single student made a choice. That choice was to keep going.
“Being part of DREAM is more than just attending school,” she said. “It’s believing your story is not over yet.”
She noted that society is often quick to define students by their setbacks, whether that be their records, attendance, grades, behaviors, or difficult moments. What makes DREAM so special, she emphasized, is that it is a place that believes a student’s potential should never be measured solely by where they started.
“This class is proof of that,” she continued. “Every person in this class has faced moments where things were difficult, uncertain, or overwhelming… days where giving up would have been easier. But you kept going.”
She highlighted that what makes this day special is the class's determination to persist in the face of adversity and that each member has incredible potential as they move into the next chapter of their lives.
For senior representative Delilah Alvarado, the day was not just about graduating but about proving to herself that she could continue moving forward when things got tough. Alvarado was a senior who had been at DREAM since seventh grade and admitted there were several bumps along the way. Yet, on stage, she reflected on how special that journey actually was, now that she has the opportunity to look back.
“Looking back now, I’m grateful for the path to get here,” she said. “As we leave DREAM Technical Academy, I hope we remember that success isn’t always about being perfect or the process. Sometimes it’s about continuing to show up, continuing to work and refusing to quit.”
Fellow representative Milo Olson thanked DREAM for being a safe, encouraging school for students who may have struggled elsewhere.
“Now that I am done, I hope that DREAM will continue on giving kids the experience that I had,” Olson said. “I saw kids go from super shy, not talking at all, to some of the most social and awesome people that I have ever met. I am so grateful that I had that time to spend with them.”
Following Olson’s address, DREAM advisor Mary Malam presented honorary DREAM Team Member Awards to local groups that have made significant impacts on the school and its students. This year’s honorees included the Willmar Elks Lodge #952, Kandiyohi County Drug Free Communities Coalition, Lutheran Social Services, and the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf.
Graduates were then welcomed to stand and walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, before moving their tassels and exiting to “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors. This year’s DREAM Technical Academy graduating class included 17 seniors.
DREAM Technical Academy Class of 2026 graduates: Delilah Alvarado, Kylee Andrews, Jayden Bowman, Daltyn Demma, Andy Duis, Marcus Fowler, Skyler Johnson, Jayden Kiken, Shiloh Lorenz, Emilio Olson, Antyon Perez-Wertz, Isabelle Perry, Alexis Quintanilla Deras, Donny Romero Salazar, Jayden Schmit, Kasey Spieker, and Robert Trevino.
